Charged for malversation of public funds of property
ORMOC CITY-Charged with malversation of public funds and property, a former mayor of Culaba in Biliran has been arrested for failing to return a sound system acquired during his term, although he remains free after posting bail.
Lorenzo Reveldez, 57, was apprehended on a warrant issued by Judge Constantino Esber, executive judge of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 37 in Caibiran, Biliran, on March 26 of this year, on charges of malversation of public funds and presumption of malversation.
Reveldez, who held the mayoral position for three terms until 2019, was arrested at his residence in Barangay Habuhab.
The charges against Reveldez stemmed from the disappearance of a sound system worth P900,000, which was procured during his tenure.
Upon an inventory of municipal assets conducted by Mayor Humphrey Olimba, it was discovered that the sound system was missing.
Mayor Olimba requested Reveldez to return the sound system, but he failed to comply, prompting legal action.
Reveldez, who ran unsuccessfully for vice governor of the province in the 2019 elections, was subsequently charged.
During his arrest, Reveldez was informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
He was then taken to the Culaba municipal police station for documentation and processing but was released on bail of P60,000 pending further legal proceedings.
(ROBERT DEJON)
